Five years ago I planted lots of these tulips. Each year fewer and fewer come up and this year I have only one. Boo Hoo. They always get eaten just before or just after they bloom. I guess I will just have to be satisfied with daffodils from now on since nothing seems to bother them. How this beautiful flower escaped being nipped in the bud this year I'll never know. I am just happy it did. I went to a garage sale last Saturday just around the corner and the lady had a big bed of the most beautiful tulips imaginable. They were right at her back door and she had a small fence around them. Maybe that's the answer. I just keep experimenting until I find things that are trouble free, lazy gardener that I am.
4 comments:
Beautiful tulip--sorry you only got one.
I'm sure I don't have the same problem with garden-eating critters here in suburban So Cal that you have where you are, but I do have weather issues. And a busy schedule. And other things I'd rather be doing. But I love a pretty garden so I've learned the survival-of-the-fittest method (thanks to a local garden guru). My plantings (perennials mostly) look pretty good most of the time and for most of the year with minimal time and effort. Right now I have roses, alstromeria, geraniums, coral bells, mexican heather, petunias, lantana, pentas and a trumpet vine blooming. The irises, babiana and ixia have finished but will be back next year. There are a few fading foxgloves left and lots of pansies, sweet alyssum and lobelia filling in the spaces. Wow, that sounds like a lot all crammed onto my tiny property!
Blasted squirrels! Tulips did not fair well here in my gardens either. To my own fault though, I did not sprinkle bone meal last year as I should have.
Not totally your fault Rosemary... Tulips are a delicacy to all the critters above ground and under. Daffodils are naturally toxic and they stay clear of them. I have my share of critter troubles... however I find that replanting a few tulips every year gives me about a 50% return. My favorite tulip is Angelique... looks peony like. Love your blog. Will follow you on twitter.
Chloe
I, too, only have a small amount of tulips left in my yard--was going to pick the one red one in the back garden and forgot and sure enough, I noticed this morning that the bloom was eaten off(squirrels?). Grrr....
I notice all kinds of tulips in other people's gardens and wonder what I am doing wrong that mine are eaten by critters or just don't come back every year. Sorry to learn you, too, have this problem.
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